Providing Enough Food for All — Tackling the problems from the roots!

By Abi Tobi Sanni

Inspired by: “Providing Enough Food For All,” a speech by Dr. Judi Wakhungu,  Executive Director African Center for Technology Studies (ACTS)   February 2, 2012 

Interview: With Dr. Judi Wakhungu, February 4th 2012.

Did you know that African women provide 80% of food consumed in Africa? Did you know that they are solely responsible for child-care, house-chores and so on? Did you also know that in most African countries, women are under- represented in science and technology and formal education? and also that they are under-represented in decision making even in agriculture where they are largely responsible?

We have all seen ads in the media encouraging us to donate to “hungry children in Africa”. Sometimes, we feel obliged to give and maybe at other times, we don’t. While it is good to help those in need, we often forget to look at the roots of their problems. How can the government, non-profit organizations, or other stakeholders tackle “hunger” problems in Africa from the root? Does sending money help in the long-term? or do we need other long-term plans? I think it is time that we start to teach people how to fish even if we have to give them some fish while they learn.

 

To learn more, I spoke to Kenya’s Dr. Judi Wakhungu, who described  some of the roots of poverty in Africa in her International Week speech,“Providing Enough Food For All.” She explained the importance of educating and involving African women in science and technology. In her speech, she opened our eyes to see that paying attention to the women, their education and health will largely effect the reduction of poverty in Africa. If they are aware and trained to use modern science and technology in regards to agriculture, they will develop better techniques to plant, produce and harvest; thereby,  increasing their effectiveness and efficiency of food production.

 

It is surprising to me that even though most African women are responsible for food production, they have little say when it comes to agriculture. Agriculture in Africa will be more effective if women are more involved with decision-making. They work directly on the farm and no one will explain the issues they face better than they would. Also, if they are better educated with how to take care of their health and how to prevent catching or spreading diseases, sicknesses and high mortality rates of children will decline greatly, as women are solely responsible for child-care. All in all, they will produce better quality food products.

 

“With the appropriate agricultural knowledge, science and technology, infrastructure and micro-finance,” Dr. Wakhungu explained, “women can play a much greater food security role.”

 

Solving these problems comes with some challenges for Dr. Wakhungu’s institute, the African Center for Technology Studies (ACTS), but there are some encouraging actions as well. Because the governments in some countries, such as Kenya, are not structured to work in a holistic manner, solutions are sometimes difficult to accomplish. They are not impossible to achieve, though. On the other hand, ACTS is beginning to build some partnerships – such as with Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). To protect the interest of the local communities, gain their trust and prevent the private sector from exploiting these villages, partners are encouraged to make long-term commitments, with a holistic approach that focuses on many different characteristics of each community. The private sector has begun to work with contracting farmers in a fair way, rather than exploiting them. Also, the government has a major role to play in ensuring that ethical practices are adhered to.

 

I believe it is more important to invest in organizations like ACTS, seeing that they tackle poverty issues from the root. In the long-run poverty-reduction in Africa is more realistic  to achieve with such initiatives.

 

Though the professor got her Masters in Science degree in Petroleum Geology from Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada, she doesn’t miss the minus temperatures.

 

“I enjoyed my studies in Canada,” she told me. ”Canada played a big role in shaping who I am today. Therefore, I feel very much at home in Canada–but I do not miss the sub-zero temperatures.”

 

I doubt anyone would miss the minus “something” temperature if they moved to a warm place!

 

Being educated from the professor’s speech and interview, I became very curious to know what motivates her. “Challenging the status quo in order to make a difference,”  she stated, and ”the desire to make a difference in Africa.”

 

It can not be denied that “difference” is a watch word for the professor.

Son Preference: Interview with Mahvish Parvez from the Indo-Canadian Women’s Association

by Breanne Fisher

Amidst the widespread number of issues covered during International Week, one topic of interest to many was the implications of “son preference” on women worldwide. The presenters, Sabrina Atwal and Mahvish Parvez, are members of the Indo-Canadian Women’s Association, which is an immigrant service agency focused on helping new immigrants integrate into the Canadian society.

I sat down with Mahvish to discuss the organization and how she helps educate and empower women on women’s rights. Currently, Mahvish is implementing a two-year project entitled the “Elimination of Harmful Cultural Practices”. The project aims to educate immigrant women and the larger community on women’s rights; with particular attention to the implications of son preference and honour killings. Through her coordination of awareness and education sessions, and development of resources that immigrant women can utilize if in trouble, Mahvish hopes to help shift deeply imbedded social attitudes about women’s rights. Through her position as project and program coordinator, she considers “success” to be the simple acknowledgement of the rights of women, which may gradually lead toward more equitable treatment.

Unfortunately, the challenge for her and the association is subverting deeply ingrained cultural norms. Because of this, she doesn’t expect immediate changes. Instead, “it will take an immense period of time,” Mahvish relayed. For now, she hopes that educating the community and creating resources will motivate women in trouble to come in, ask for help and discuss the problem.

Mahvish and I also briefly discussed her presentation about “Son Preference”, which is the tendency for certain cultures to conduct female feticide, in order to guarantee a male child. This practice has led to a skewed sex ratio. In some Asian countries, for example, an average of 100 girls are born for every 115 boys. As result, the cultures who practice “Son Preference” have observed an extreme increase in human trafficking, as girls are sold to regions with a shortage of women. Areas with a female shortage also experience social unrest and higher crime rates due to an increase in male aggression. Surprisingly, “son preference” is not a component of any religion. It is a social construction, resulting largely from the custom of providing dowries to daughters’ husbands when married. Mahvish emphasized that the “Son Preference” problem is also a deeply rooted cultural issue that will never be a “quick fix”. However, the Indo-Canadian Women’s Association works to bring awareness to the issue and has also established an Anti-Dowry Campaign.

For more information on how you can get involved in the Indo Canadian Women’s Association, or if you’re interested in attending one of their workshops or information sessions, take a look at their website here.

Although Mahvish stressed the importance of not expecting a rapid change, she said that change is happening with time, patience and empowering women to “question” what they may have previously overlooked.

North Africa in Focus, a Year After: Lessons and Prospects from the Arab Spring

By Salvatore Cucchiara

The protests that originated in Tunisia in December 2010 and quickly spread to other North African and Middle Eastern countries took many by surprise, including the very governments that these protests have targeted. While some countries have undergone a regime change, popular discontent across the Arab world shows no sign of abating. That the Arab Spring is still alive and well, however, does not mean that it is too early to learn something valuable from it. What, then, are the lessons that we can draw from these uprisings? What are the challenges that they still face?

In his presentation, Dr. Mojtaba Mahdavi attempted to answer these questions by first providing an overview of the Arab Spring. According to Mahdavi, social movements have drawn most of their energies from the “middle class poor” –educated people who find themselves in an economically disadvantaged situation. These people fight for bread and butter, but also for freedom and social justice; they are often religiously oriented, yet do not seek to create an Islamic state. Faced by an unresponsive political class and fed up with oppression at the hands of their regimes, they have decided to take matters into their own hands. The regime change in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya are testimonies to these citizens’ power.

However –argued Mahdavi– not everything is rosy. Firstly, the military has proved its unreliability as an ally of these social movements. Secondly, new regimes run the risk of giving rise to a new form of authoritarian politics. Nonetheless, there is reason to be optimistic: “democracy is a process,” Mahdavi stated, “and people need to practice and build their own experience.” That it to say: perhaps there will be mistakes, but it is precisely by making mistakes that one learns.

Maxwell Zhira added some refreshing insights to Mahdavi’s presentation by drawing attention to the danger of Western imperialism. According to Zhira, it is certainly important that social movements fight against domestic oppressors for freedom, but it is equally important that such movements choose their external friends carefully. Western powers have permanent strategic and commercial interests in Africa and the Middle East; consequently, movements who rely excessively on such powers risk replacing an oppressive regime with one that, being indebted to the West, is bound to serve its interests.

Mahdavi’s and Zhira’s presentation elicited a number of questions from the public on issues like the role of Islam, the responsibility of international organizations, and the effects of the Arab Spring on the Palestine/Israel conflict. But perhaps this is precisely what good presentations do: they always generate more questions than answers.

“Follow the Crooked Path”: Review of Make a Living While Making a Difference Career Forum

By Breanne Fisher

Everyone wants to make a difference. But what divides the dreamers from the doers is the willingness to invest the time, sacrifice and commitment required to bring a desire into a full-blown reality. Sometimes, when faced with a task as great as “changing the word”, we quickly become impeded by the frightening strike of reality: Where do I even start? Who can I talk to? Will I have the time? ….. Is it even possible? Well, demonstrated by the speakers at the recent CAPS’ Make a Living While Making a Difference Career Forum, yes it is.

Here are some insights from the speakers who presented:

Christy Morin, Arts on the Ave

In 2005, after a recent move with her husband, Christy identified the need to bring city-wide attention to an inner-city area located on 118 Ave. She decided to bring together her love for the arts and for the community by coordinating festivals, events and projects that would both showcase local talent and bring awareness to the area.

She said that her passion for the project derived from a feeling of concern that the community didn’t have a voice, and because of their economic situation, little opportunity to be listened to. Now, the area hosts over 20,000 visitors during some of their festivals and has been a key player in urban renewal.

Her advice for students hoping to make a difference: “Allow yourself to be crazy.” Step outside your zone of comfort and use what skills and passions you have.

Shahriya Khan, Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues

Shahriya aims to use some of his personal experiences as an immigrant to Canada to help others in the same situation. Through his position on the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues, he tries to develop programs for immigrants who come from challenges. He said that his “commitment was to learn” and to “bring about a difference in the lives of people”.

Through his efforts, he has been able to make local Edmonton communities safer (such as helping to implement 40 km zones in some residential areas), and reach out to new immigrants who have little support when they first arrive.

His advice for students: “Look for opportunities. Don’t wait for them to come to you.”

Hayley Watters, Y.E.S.S.

Hayley identified her passion early on when she pursued a Bachelor of Education degree. She loves to work with adolescents and help them navigate through difficult times.

Through her position in the Youth Emergency Shelter Society, she’s utilized her passion to help adolescents become self-reliant members of society.

She said that she loves the fact that she can go home at the end of the day and say, “I love my job and I made a difference in someone’s life!”

Her advice for students: if you find an area that you would like to work in, start by volunteering. Don’t give up and stay committed to your goal.

Russ Dahms, Edmonton Chamber of Volunteer Organizations

Russ’ experience within the not-for-profit sector is vast, so he had a lot of inspiring knowledge to impart to students during the forum. Some tips he shared included:

-          Have a personal purpose. Ask yourself what you’re good at and try to fit that with what you want to do. For example, if you’re good at sales, you might be able to apply that to working with kids and making presentations.

-          Things come together in weird ways. Don’t be afraid if things don’t go exactly as planned.

-          When trying to decide what you want to do following graduation, start by questioning which sector you want to work in – corporate, public, not-for-profit, then pursue it. Many people jump between sectors until they find where they fit.

Vince Zalcik, Catholic Social Services

Vince emphasized the importance of not settling. He said that early in someone’s career, it’s crucial to “sample” first. Here are some other tidbits he shared:

-          Have goals, a plan and a sense of where you’re going, but don’t allow your plans to constrain you: “You will end up somewhere fantastic, but it might not be what you planned.”

-          Be self-aware and grounded first before pursuing anything in the Not-for-Profit sector

-          “Follow the crooked path” – things may take a long time to come together, but they will with time. Be patient.

Karmen  Masson, Suit Yourself

Karmen graduated from Law and worked in a law firm before she found her true calling. She founded “Suit Yourself” after recognizing the need to help women living in poverty find employment. Women come to the “Suit Yourself” boutique to be outfitted in formal attire, suitable for a job interview process. Her diverse background demonstrated to students a prime example of the “crooked path” Vince discussed.

She identified 5 key lessons that students who want to create change:

1)      Acknowledge your passion – make it part of your life

2)      It’s okay to want a stable income first, but look for outside ways to fuel your passion

3)      Don’t stress about income if you decide to pursue a not-for-profit career

4)      Take opportunities to explore new ways to make a difference – for example, social entrepreneurship

5)      Make contact with potential mentors

State of Democracy in South America

By Kristy Grahn

After many years of social and political unrest, South American countries adopted democracy as their form of government. Despite this, the Andean countries such as Columbia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador and landlocked Paraguay display signs of instable democracies as they have been experiencing uprisings. The most stable democracies in South America can be found in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia and Chile. So why do the democracies vary in terms of functionality and stability? Perhaps this is because the most stable democracies in South America are found in the countries with the most prosperous economies.

Many democracies all over the world are unstable and are (for a lack of a better word) useless. As numerous authoritarian rulers rise to power with subsequent controversy, the quality of their democracies are questioned.  In South America’s case, the difference lies in its ability to contribute as a key stakeholder in the global economy. Also, with technological and educational advancements, civilians are now aware of the benefits that a democracy has. The most stable democracies in South America happen to also have the most prosperous economies (with the exception of Bolivia).  Is it safe to say then that in order to have a functional and stable democracy, a country must also have a functional and prosperous economy as well? My argument is that the quality of democracy in fact is interconnected with the quality of the economy.

How can a government provide a true democracy for its citizens without the economic means to do so? For example, Africa exports raw goods to core countries that then take those raw goods and produce manufactured goods out of those to sell to their public and other countries. Since Africa does not purchase manufactured goods from developed countries, it has no foothold in the global economy as the materials it exports are bought at a very low price. The monetary gain of the democracies in Africa is barely enough to keep their heads above water, let alone run an efficient and effective democracy. Either way, even though half of South America’s democracies are struggling, they are still more effective than the governments in play prior to 10 years ago, and there is only one way to go up from there… UP!

Global Action for Palestinian Human Rights: A Preview

By Salvatore Cucchiara

A conversation with Siavash Saffari, member of the Palestine Solidarity Network (PSN)

For most people, Palestinian resistance conjures up media-borne images of stone-throwing kids, rockets that fly over Israel, and political factions that spend too much of their time fighting against each other to be effective at all.

But, as Siavash Saffari of the Palestine Solidarity Network (PSN) observes, there is more to it than the media suggests. What the picture above leaves out is precisely what is most promising about Palestinian resistance: a non-violent grassroots movement that sees Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists working together to put an end to Israeli occupation.

According to Saffari, this grassroots movement signals Palestinian people’s willingness to take things out of politicians’ hands into their own. Disillusioned with the existing political structures, Palestinian activists have attempted to promote and experiment with direct democracy by building a solidarity network. While global in its reach, this network remains committed to taking the lead of Palestinian activists.

Serving as an inspiration for the so-called Arab Spring, this non-violent, citizens-driven movement has been in the dark for too long. You can get to know more about it hearing a firsthand account by Scott Harris at the PSN-sponsored session, “Living Justice” (Dentistry/Pharmacy Centre 4114; 11am-12pm).

I am attending. Are you?

Your Voice, Your Power: Living Democratically Today

By Breanne Fisher

So much of life in a free Western society is taken for granted. Freedom from oppression, infinite opportunities to maintain good health, economic prosperity… But, one of the greatest privileges that many of us overlook is simply: the ability to be heard. To “Live Democratically” doesn’t only entail casting a vote in a political election. Rather, it is an opportunity to fully engage in creating a better tomorrow. Here are some innovative ways to exercise your democratic power.

“I Shop, Therefore I Am”

In a culture defined by consumerism, the way we spend speaks volumes. Our purchase decisions reflect our values, our beliefs, and our goals. Companies capitalize on changing consumer preferences constantly. When demand falters, change happens almost immediately. An example of this power can be found in the food industry. As obesity rates have risen in North America, consumers have begun to demand more “diet-conscious” options. Through this particular rise in demand, fast food companies immediately responded by adding in salad options, potato chip brands amended their image to highlight messages such as “trans-fat free” or “baked”, and the number of products which include low-calorie sweeteners have multiplied. As illustrated by this recent revolutionary change, we have a voice and corporations are listening.

Therefore, we can use our voice to enlighten businesses on what we consider to be of importance. Exercising this power could be as simple as:

-          Purchasing fair trade coffee once a week

-          Supporting local businesses

-          Selecting some organic products at the grocery store

-          Choosing meat options that were ethically produced

Participate

The simple act of engaging in the community will allow you to directly connect with what you believe in and enhance your understanding. Here are just some of the ways to do that:

-          Join a cause that you’re passionate about

-          Learn as much as you can about what excites you

-          Network with others who also want to cultivate change

We live in a country where the possibilities are endless. Where new ideas are listened to, respected, and valued. Shouldn’t we therefore utilize the infinite opportunities we have? The beauty of the society in which we reside is that we enjoy an abundant supply of choices. Citizen power courses through us at every moment. However, whether we decide to use this power or simply let it sit is a completely personal prerogative. What will you choose?

Living democracy, a living blog

"Democracy and Citizens," Tayfun Babadagli's theme winning entry in this year's photo contest: Speaking Through the Lens

Welcome back to the International Week blog, a forum for learning more about the speakers, events and ideas behind the University of Alberta’s International Week 2012. Every year we assemble a crack team of writers from the campus community to help you dig deeper into the program. This year, our focus is Living Democracy: Citizen Power in a Global Age. The title is inspired by a challenge from previous I-Week speaker Francis Moore Lappé to explore living democracy, “democracy as a way of life, no longer something done to us or for us but what we ourselves create”.

Throughout over 60 lectures, workshops, concerts, films, and exhibits, you’ll have a chance to discuss issues like how social media has influenced the Arab Spring revolutions, what democracy means for First Nations people in Canada, and how decisions are made in our elections, in Occupy general assemblies, and in deliberative democratic processes. Our keynote speaker Tariq Ali – an incisive and provocative British-Pakistani journalist and filmmaker – will kick things off with his January 30 lecture on “Capitalism and Democracy: Economic Crisis and Democractic Deficit”.

There will also be chances to share experiences of democracy with international students from around the world, see the winners of this year’s photo contest, and connect with the organizations presenting workshops at an NGO Fair during I-Week. We hope you’ll join us for all the events you can; almost all of them are free. And we hope you’ll enjoy investigating the topics deeper through the writing on this blog over the next few weeks. Please comment and share to let us know what you think. If you’re tweeting, our hashtag is #iweekualberta.

Yours,

Chris Chang-Yen Phillips
International Week Communications Coordinator
Global Education Program, University of Alberta International

DoCS interview with Jeff Savage and Logan McIntosh

DoCS, Deliberation on Campus Sustainability, was cleverly created by Logan McIntosh (political science major and sociology minor undergrad) and Jeff Savage (double major political science and religion studies undergrad). They are interns at the Office of Sustainability and co-founders of DoCS.

The inspiration for the creation of DoCS started in Dr. David Kahanes’ political science class on democratic theory. A larger portion of the class was devoted to deliberation theory and consisted of examples that are occurring today. McIntosh and Savage were inspired to take action on a local level that encompassed issues on campus.

Deliberation democracy, as McIntosh indicates, is “an alternative decision making structure that focuses on empowering the people as opposed to a top-down approach.”

McIntosh and Savage took the idea of DoCS to the Office of Sustainability at the University last April and it has been in progress ever since. The planning incorporated principles of sustainability initiated by a survey of 1800 respondents regarding what they thought were major campus issues. Phase One was the deliberation process that happened last week. Phase Two consisted of taking the information from the people and organising it into more concise categories. Phase Three is the open activating phase where people can get involved.

The three main goals of DoCS is to create a campus voice document of sustainability which will ultimately influence the campus sustainability plan. Secondly, DoCS plans to activate a plan as a social momentum from the deliberation process between its participants from all perspectives and opinions of students, staff and faculty members.  Thirdly, DoCS hopes to create a road map for other campus issues through a meaningful democratic engagement.

DoCS is an inspiring movement on Campus that can be appreciated for all voices of the campus community. As Savage notes, “DoCS reinvigorates democracy and really empowers people to take on the change they want to see.”

To learn more about DoCS, to participate, or to volunteer please visit www.sustainability.ualberta.ca/docs.

-Kristyn, I-Week Blogger

Interview with Mitra Knight

Mitra Knight, an inspiring speaker from International Week 2011, gives an insight into the plight of the Iranian Baha’i Refugees and their experiences.

She was born into a Baha’i family in Iran, a country whose government has systematically subjugated adherents to the Baha’i Faith to mistreatment and persecution. Six months before the Iranian Revolution, Knight left the country and headed to Ghana to help promote the Baha’i faith, whose core philosophy is the unity of mankind. During her years teaching the Baha’i faith in Ghana, she fell in love with the people and the country.

Knight moved to Canada as a refugee through the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and was granted a scholarship to complete a degree at Dalhousie University in Halifax. The Iranian government had confiscated her passport simply because she was a Baha’i. Knight describes Canada as a “beautiful multicultural country” that creates “vast opportunities for any Canadian.”

She indicates that members of the Baha’i Faith are still under persecution in Iran and that Baha’i students are systematically being denied higher education just because they refuse to recant their beliefs. Knight emphasizes that “freedom to pursue education is a fundamental human right and should be given to Baha’i students”. She notes that the Baha’i Faith is a major world religion, with adherents in almost every country of the globe, whose purpose is to unite all the races and peoples of the world in one universal Cause and one common Faith.

Knight wants to spread this awareness and is motivated to use her experience as a stepping stone to advocate for the protection of the human rights of Baha’is in Iran. For more information please visit www.bahai.org

-Kristyn, I-Week Blogger